Josh Tillman has spent the past four years as a Fleet Foxes folk man, touring the world as drummer and vocalist for the acclaimed Seattle six-piece. But he's been releasing solo albums since 2004, covering folk, country and rock, with a quiet and lonesome bent, and now he's releasing his first album under the alias Father John Misty. It seems the new moniker has refreshed him a little, and there's a gentle cheekiness and humour to the 12 tracks, which have a beautiful carefree quality.
There's a wonderfully classic tone to his voice, and arrangements which remind of everyone from The Mamas & the Papas to Don McLean (especially on Well You Can Do It Without Me) and even The Beatles - This Is Sally Hatchet has a faint Come Together vibe. And Tee Pees 1-12 could be Elton John doing folk, with some jiving fiddles and it's tongue-in-cheek tale of Hollywood pitfalls.
There's still flashes of the Fleet Foxes of course - for example layering his own vocals creates some lovely rich harmonies on O I Long To Feel Your Arms Around Me, which is affecting in it's genuine longing.
The lyrics paint wonderful stories in a mischievous, often absurdist fashion, and are well worth a read - they come printed on a large sheet of paper folded in the CD package, along with a bizarre selection of stories, excerpts, reports and some correspondence proposing a new videogame called Bed Bug Mountain.
Stars: 4/5
